6 - LENSES AND FILTERS

LENSES AND FILTERS

Coloured Filters

 fig 109

A shot of all of the filters in my possession, (from top left) polaroid, grey/orange/blue colour filter, UV filter. 

fig 110

Before the blue filter was added, the sky was more or less all one colour - that seen towards the left on the image. The filter added an extra level of texture and shading to the sky which I really like as it brought out the blueness in the sky and made the picture appear to have a sunrise effect.

Fish Eye Lens

Taken by Fabiola Mann 2/1/14

fig 111

This is another shot from my first exploratition of use of the wide angle macro lens. I took this photograph mainly to emphasize the distorting powers of the "fish eye" lens. As I said, everything at the centre of the image is enlarged, whilst everything around the edge appears curved and disproportianately small.

fig 112

                                                                           My Lenses

fig 113

Lens D: This is a polaroid, wide angle lens, useful for fish eye shots when attached to a macro lens. 

(for example of use of Lens D see fig 89)

fig 114

Another example of use of the fish eye macro lens. The lens, along with the low angle and the grim expression/uniform of the warden give the photo both a surreal and a fearful edge. The subject is enlarged in comparison to the buildings behind, so appears closer to the viewer than he was to the lens. 

Fixed Lens

fig 115

fig 91 was taken using a Samyang fixed f1.5 lens. This was one of the first pictures which I took with extremely low light - I was truly taking advantage of the extremely low aperture. The picture was taken at a bar in soho

fig 116

fig 117

Lens B: This is a fixed Sam Yang lens, which I purchased due to the fact that the aperture can be set to as low as f 1.5. This enables me to achieve extreme shallow focus and take pictures in very low light. The fact that it is fixed means that I cannot adjust the focal length. The only disadvantage to using such a low aperture is that vary precise focusing is required- the slightest movement can lead to blurring. 

(for example of use of Lens B see fig 91)

fig 118

Wide Angle Lens

fig 119

fig 120

fig 121

Lens C: This is a Canon 28-105mm lens. The fact that the minimum aperture is only f 3.5 means that this cannot achieve the level of quality of the sigma lens and requires more light. However, it is also significantly cheaper and lighter so easy for outdoor shoots. 

(for example of use of Lens C see fig 94)

fig 122

Zoom Lens

fig 123

Lens A: This is a sigma 17-70mm zoom lens, with a focal point of 2.8. This is my primary lens, due to its ease to use and reliability in producing high quality photographs. 

(for example of use of Lens A see fig 96)

fig 124

Evaluation

What Went Well: 

 I have learned:

• How to operate a large range of lenses and filters to take full advantage of their functions
• How to use colour filters to alter the mood of a picture
• Which situation is most appropriate for which lens to provide the most high quality picture possible

Improvements

• I feel that I could have done some more work exploring use of  a polarised filter and a U.V. filter (for example against glare from artificial light or shooting through windows)